Washington's Birthday eBook

“Make a dish of tea, then, you old coward, and
I’ll take it to him so soon as I get these slops
off me. ’Fore George! How small-clothes
stick when they’re wet!”

The make-shift meal was still unfinished when the
general’s body-servant appeared with the tea.
Taking it, Brereton marched boldly to the council
door, and, giving a knock, he went in without awaiting
a reply.

The group of anxious-faced men about the table looked
up, and Washington, with a frown, demanded, “For
what do you interrupt us, sir?”

The young officer put the tea down on the map lying
in front of the general. “Billy didn’t
dare take this to your Excellency, so I made bold
to e’en bring it myself.”

“This is no time for tea, Colonel Brereton.”

“’Tis no time for the army to lose their
general,” replied the aide. “I pray
you drink it, sir, for our sake, if you won’t
for your own.”

A kindly look supplanted the sternness of the previous
moment on the general’s face. “I
thank you for your thoughtfulness, Brereton,”
he said, raising the cup and pouring some of the steaming
drink into the saucer.

FOOTNOTES:

[26] From “Janice Meredith.” Dodd,
Mead & Co.

X

SELECTIONS FROM WASHINGTON’S SPEECHES AND WRITINGS

SELECTIONS FROM THE RULES OF CIVILITY

[Copied by Washington at the age of
fourteen from an old translation of a French
book of 1595. “Washington was entirely
aware,” writes Owen Wister, “of the
great influence for good exerted upon his own
character by the Rules of Civility. It is a misfortune
for all American boys in all our schools to-day, that
they should be told the untrue and foolish story
of the hatchet and the cherry tree, and denied
the immense benefit of instruction from George
Washington’s authentic copy-book.”]

Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another,
though he were your enemy.

When you see a crime punished you may be inwardly
pleased; but always show pity to the suffering offender.

Superfluous compliments and all affectation of ceremony
are to be avoided, yet, where due, they are not to
be neglected.

Do not express joy before one sick or in pain, for
that contrary passion will aggravate his misery.

When a man does all he can, though it succeed not
well, blame not him that did it.

Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement
of any.

In your apparel be modest, and endeavor to accommodate
Nature, rather than to procure admiration; keep to
the fashion of your equals.

Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you
esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better
to be alone than in bad company.

Speak not injurious words neither in jest nor in earnest;
scoff at none, although they give occasion.